420 KKI'oKT OK OFFICE «>F EXrKKLMKNT STATIONS. 



'I'lic station is now \v(>ll :in<l pciiiiauciitly locatccl. and a larjic iiinii- 

 l)i'i- of iinportaiit invo.sti«iat ions arc luidcr way, as may l)e seen from 

 the list of cxpcrimoiits oil a foll()win<^- ])an('. Witli tlio api)()intm(Mit 

 of two more <(oorl moii to take cliaroc of liorticiilturc and animal 

 industi-y, i'os])octi\ely, the orj^anization of the station will be very 

 satisfat'torv ajiil tlui field of invostioations \v«dl covered. 



IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT. 



The inipi'ovenuMits have consisted chielly in the repair and paint injr 

 of Imiklintjs, building of fences, and repair and cleaning of roads and 

 dit<-'hes. A barbed-wire fence of 3 new wires and posts of native 

 wood at intervals of 15 feet has been built around the tract known as 

 the ^'Ochenta;'' the length of the fence is about 2,<)<)0 meters, or a 

 little more than 1.5 miles. Forty rods of woven -wire highway fence 

 have been erected along the highwav leading from the city to the sta- 

 tion farm. As a result of the appropriation made by the insular leg- 

 islature for fencing, 550 rods more of the woven-wire fencing has 

 been purchased and, at the present writing, is being erected. 



The stable and wagon shed, which was brought from Rio Piedras, 

 has been erected on the site of the old stal)le which has l)een torn down, 



A plant house 60 by 80 feet in area has been constructed of poles, 

 wire, and tent cloth, such as is used for tobacco shade. The uprights 

 of native wood were cut from the farm, as were also the bamboo string- 

 ers, thus making the cost of the structure small. The most serious 

 objection to the framework has Ijeen that the nodes on the bamboo 

 have worn holes through the canvas. The nodes project very little, 

 but they are so hard and cutting that it is i-econnnended that they be 

 carefully smoothed oti* wherever the}^ come in contact with the canvas. 



The'additions to the equipment consist principally of small imple- 

 ments, such as hoes, spades, shovels, etc., together with a new set of 

 work harness, a drainage level, and a new typewriter and bookcases 

 for the office. 



DRAINAGE. 



Approximateh^ 'JOO feet of underdrainage of bamboo has been put 

 down in the experimental field and, up to date, has given excellent 

 results. The nodes were cut out of the poles, thus securing hollow 

 cylinders about a foot in length and from 2 to -4 inches internal diam- 

 eter. These were sorted so as to place the larger ones at the mouth 

 of the drain and the next smaller ones were gradually used as the head 

 of the drain was approached. The}' were placed at an average depth 

 of about 8 feet and were at once covered. The}' work ({uite as satis- 

 factory as tile drain. f)ut, of course, they can not be expected to last 

 for a great length of time. In connection with the appropriation made 



